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	Parishioners Hope to Put Events into the Past By Stephen P. Clark The Advocate September 13, 2007 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-fayreaction1asep13,0,3062110.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines Longtime parishioners of St. John Roman Catholic Church in Darien felt surprise, relief and sadness yesterday when they heard their former pastor, the Rev. Michael Jude Fay, admitted in federal court that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from them to take exotic vacations, buy a condominium and shop for designer clothes. "I'm shocked. I didn't realize it was that serious," said John Franko, 77, a 20-year parishioner who has been a staunch defender of Fay. "I think he's a good guy. He just went astray." Fay was pastor of St. John from 1991 until he resigned last year. According to Fay's plea agreement, in 1999 he began to siphon church money into two secret bank accounts. Fay and prosecutors disagree on the amount, but he stole from $400,000 to $2.5 million from the church over seven years, according to yesterday's court proceeding. Mildred Rowe, 77, a lifelong parishioner, said Fay is a sick man. "Maybe now he realizes what he's done," she said. "I think I brought myself to closure a long time ago. I was angry and I felt betrayed, but I think I forgave him." Her husband, William Rowe, also 77 and a lifelong parishioner, was happy to hear that Fay is required to pay restitution, could spend up to 10 years in prison and could pay up to $250,000 in fines when he is sentenced Dec. 4. "Look, he stole from us," Rowe said. "It's the only way he's going to ask for forgiveness. If he had asked for forgiveness right away, we would have thought differently. I think he should pay the consequences." Allison Dolcetti, 61, who has been a parishioner for 41 years, said she is happy for a different reason. "That's going to lead to his salvation," Dolcetti said of the guilty plea. "I hope he can come close to God again. Nobody who is happy or well does things like that. That's someone who's troubled. I think the whole parish is praying for that. We agreed that he would be healed of all of this." Yesterday's guilty plea also will help the parish heal, Dolcetti said. "Now we can go past it and keep growing," she said. Barbara Alter, 39, a parishioner for 26 years, said the news is "a breath of fresh air for everyone." "I just think it's going to be good for our church to have closure," Alter said. "I'm glad he pleaded guilty and we're not going to have to go through a messy trial." Patricia Dailey, who is in her early 50s, said she's happy Fay won't receive leniency. "It's great that he's pleaded guilty and admitted what's he done," Dailey said. "All of a sudden the justice system is working." Pete Wray, 62, said he's relieved the case was coming to a close. "What we need most here is closure for all parties concerned," he said. "I think we need to close that chapter and start focusing on what Christ intended the churches to be doing when he established the churches."
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